Closed-loop filling system and method
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorMyron E. Mills, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filling system includes a container, a cap for the container defining an egress and an ingress for a material from and to the container, respectively, a tank in fluid communication with the container through both the ingress and the egress of the cap, and means for urging the material between the container and the tank through the egress and ingress of the cap. A cap for a container includes a cap base engageable with the container and defining an inlet port and an outlet port, an inlet coupling in fluid communication with the inlet port, a draw tube, and an outlet coupling in fluid communication with the draw tube.
Claims32
A filling system, comprising:
- a container;
- a cap for the container defining an egress and an ingress for a material from and to the container, respectively;
- a tank in fluid communication with the container through both the ingress and the egress of the cap;
- and
- means for urging the material between the container and the tank through the egress and ingress of the cap.
A cap for a container, comprising:
- a cap base engageable with the container and defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port;
- an inlet coupling in fluid communication with the inlet port;
- a draw tube;
- and
- an outlet coupling in fluid communication with the draw tube.
A method, comprising:
- engaging a cap with a container;
- coupling a first end of a conduit with the cap;
- coupling a second end of the conduit with the cap;
- and
- transferring material between the container and a tank through the conduit.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for engaging a cap with a container;
- means for coupling a first end of a conduit with the cap;
- means for coupling a second end of the conduit with the cap;
- and
- means for transferring material between the container and a tank through the conduit.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for storing a material;
- means for transmitting the material from the means for storing the material to a device and from the device to the means for storing the material;
- and
- means for releasably coupling the means for transmitting the material with the means for storing the material.
An apparatus for coupling a container with a conduit, comprising:
- means for capping the container;
- and
- means for releasably coupling the means for capping the container and the conduit, the means for releasably coupling being capable of inhibiting a flow of fluid through the conduit when the means for capping the container and the conduit are uncoupled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.